Undefeated through four games in the 2K26 Las Vegas Summer League, the Sacramento Kings earned a spot in the semifinals.
Facing off against the Toronto Raptors (4-0), they came away with a 98-88 win on Saturday afternoon.
Toronto’s defensive pressure in the fourth quarter proved to be effective, but Isaac Jones ended the night with 36 points on 13/17 from the field and 9/11 on free throws.
Mason Jones (oblique strain) was available, leaving everyone active for Kings Summer League head coach Dipesh Mistry.
Still, they elected to start the new two-way guard Isaiah Stevens for his playmaking ability. It paid off early, as Sacramento jumped out to an 18-4 lead in a hurry.
Stevens to Jones 😮💨 pic.twitter.com/cJP0IOu8Is
— Sacramento Kings (@SacramentoKings) July 19, 2025
Both they and Toronto hang their hat on the defensive end, making for a game of runs largely fueled by points off turnovers.
Ja’Kobe Walter and the Raptors fought to stay alive, trailing the Kings 28-16 at the end of one.
Typically, the Summer League allows for ten personal fouls, but the postseason limits players to six. 2025 first-rounders Nique Clifford and Collin Murray-Boyles each picked up three in the first half, limiting their impact.
Momentum continued to favor Toronto, cutting their deficit to 48-42. Sacramento missed 11 straight triples to close out the half.
Clifford, who scored just two points in the first half, came alive in the third.
Nique with the stepback 😮💨 pic.twitter.com/f8zNUjTXNU
— Sacramento Kings (@SacramentoKings) July 19, 2025
M. Jones helped knock down triples. Their bigs, Isaac Jones in particular, were finishing around the basket.
And, maybe most importantly, their defensive identity was on full display as they started the quarter on a 22-3 run. Sacramento led 70-48 with less than four minutes.
A 9-0 run kept their opposition within reach, as the scoreboard read 75-60 with one quarter left to play.
Toronto’s full-court pressure ramped up, not going down easily. But, I. Jones seemed to always convert timely finishes, putbacks, or trips to the free throw line.
But, as Jamal Shead told ESPN before the start of the 4th, they were going to focus on chipping away, ‘chopping wood.’
Turnovers, turnovers, turnovers. It’s how Sacramento got their lead (and undefeated record), but it’s also how Toronto recovered.
Giving the ball up five times in the first two minutes of the frame, their 24-point lead was cut to three in what felt like a blink.
This defensive intensity by Alijah Martin 😤🔒
Toronto and Sacramento looking to punch their ticket to the #NBA2KSummerLeague Finals on ESPN! pic.twitter.com/VZxT6Mj55N
— NBA (@NBA) July 19, 2025
Stevens, Clifford, Carter, and Jones were hounded. Four more turnovers later (and only two made field goals), Sacramento was up to nine giveaways in the quarter.
As their mishaps continued to rack up, the Kings appeared to be losing their composure. Their lead was cut to one (83-82) with three minutes left.
He helped spark a 7-0 run, along with Coach Mistry’s decision to go smaller in order to deal with ball pressure, which allowed them to never fully surrender their advantage.
Neither team shot about 30 percent from three, but a win is a win.
The Kings are now locked into the 2K26 Summer League Championship with a chance to become the first team to win the event three times.
Set to face off against the winner of Charlotte and Oklahoma City on Sunday night, a Summer League ring will be on the line.
More Sacramento Kings coverage on Sactown Sports
Scott Perry has made the Sacramento Kings’ goal for next season apparent: create an organizational identity centered around six core principles.
Competitive. Tough. Team-Oriented. Disciplined. Accountable. Professional.
In Las Vegas for the 2K26 Summer League, Perry sat down with Sactown Sports for an exclusive one-on-one interview to outline how he decided on those principles, finding players (new and inherited) who fit the mold, and plenty more.
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Scott Perry outlines details of preferred Kings’ identity
